Paramus Man, Veteran Celebrates 104th Birthday

PARAMUS, NJ — A Paramus man and World War II veteran celebrated his 104th birthday on Tuesday, a news release said.

Ansgar Hansen, who was born on June 21, 1918, in southern Norway and immigrated to America in June 1939, was drafted into the Navy near the end of World War II. He served on Johnston Island in the South Pacific as head of the carpentry shop for nearly a year.

Hansen moved into an assisted living facility in Paramus, Brightview Paramus, after his wife of almost 76 years, Henny, died in 2017. In the fifties and sixties, he continued to work as a carpenter, and built the house that he and his wife lived in for most of their marriage. He sold the house when he moved to Paramus.

Ansgar Hansen met Henny at a church in New York, and they were united in marriage on July 12, 1941, which brought three children, all of whom graduated from Paramus High School. The couple also had nine grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter.

Focused on faith in God and love of family, Hansen was active in church, serving many years as Sunday school superintendent, trustee and later as an elder, the news release said. He was the second of 13 children.